George w



( o Model.)

G. W. STEWART.

TELEGRAPHIO INSTRUMENT.

Patented June 29, 1886.

GEORGE \V. STEVART,

TELEGRAPHIC PATENT Erica.

OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed November 6,1885.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. STEWART, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TelegraphicInstruments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to telegraphic instruments for taking messageseither by sound or by touch. In instruments designed for receivingmessages by the sense of touch avibratory bar connected with thearmature of an electromagnet has been provided at one end with a spur ortouch-point adapted to vibrate in a hollow open-ended finger-rest orthimble. The operator, by placing his thumb or finger in contact withthis vibratory spur, could receive a telegraphic message silently and bythe sense of touch alone. It has been found, however, by experience,that in receivinga message rapidly transmitted the sense of touch in theindex-finger placed on the top of the thimble becomes dull anduncertain, thus leading to a confused and imperfect perception of themessage.

It is the object of my present invention to overcome this difficulty,and this I accomplish by dispensing with the sharpened touch-point orspur and thimble above mentioned and substituting therefor a disk,button, or similar surface, which may be grasped by the thumb andfingers or touched therewith or with any portion of the hand withoutincurring fatigue or exhausting the sensibility to impressionstransmitted through the armature and attached vibratory bar.

My invention consists in the combination, with an electro-magnet orelectro magnets, armature, and connections for receiving andtransmitting telegraphic messages by electric or electro magneticcurrents, of a vibratory bar connected with the armature of the magnetor magnets and provided at or near one end with a disk, button, orsimilar surface, that may be touched or grasped by the hand Patent No.344,505, dated June 29, 1886,

Serial No. 132,011. (No model.)

or fingers for the purpose of receiving a telegraphic message by thesense of touch.

The invention also consists, generally, in the construction,arrangement,and combination of the parts of atelegraphers instrument, aswill be hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a telegraphersinstrument embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the base of atelegraphefls instrument, to which are secured the clectro-magnets orcoils B, the souudingpost G, and a bifurcated standard or bearing, 1),to which is pivoted a vibratory arm or bar, E, which carries thearmature F of the electro-magnet. The vibratory bar E at its end nearestthe sounding-post is bifurcated or formed with a recess or slot, (1, toreceive a lug or projection, Z), on thesounding-post. This slot a is ofsuch width as to allow the bar Etc have asuffieientrange ofmovement inits vibrations, and by contact of the sides of the slot a with the lug bthe usual click is produced when exchanging messages by sound. At ornear the opposite end of the vibratory bar E is a disk or button, K,which may be either flat, convex, concave, or ofany other convenientform. This disk or button K maybe either formed on or attached to thebar E, and can be arranged to project on either or both sides thereof,or at the end of or above said bar. The form ofthe button K ispreferably such that it may be easily and conveniently grasped by thethumb and one or more of the fingers without fatigue or loss ofsensibility or confusion ofimpressions while taking rapidly-transmittedmessages. This construction also enables the operator to control themovements of the vibratory bar E, so as to lessen the noise of thesounder or check it altogether.

The vibratory bar E may be of any suitable or convenient shape, but ispreferably so formed as to be readilymounted in proximity to the magnet,and so as to be under the control of a spring, (Z, one end of which isattached to said bar, while the other end is connected by a rod, wire,or cord, 0, with the sounding- 1 post 0. The tension of the spring (I isregulated by means of a thumb-screw, f, or other adj usting devicepassed down through the sounding-post G, and adapted to engage and holdthe wire or rod 6 in any position to which it may have been drawn by aloop, 9, at its end. The spring dis so adjusted as to hold the vibratorybar E in such position that the armature F will be normally out ofcontact with the magnet, but capable of being attached thereby for theproduction or developmentof signals upon the passage of a propercurrent.

If desired, the sounding-post 0 may be dispensed with and messagesreceived entirelyor at all times by the sense of touch. Then thesounding-post is retained in the instrument, it is preferable to mountit upon a hollow platform, h, by which the distinctness oftheseunds isincreased.

In receiving telegraphic messages by the sense of touch through themedium of a disk, button, or similar projection, or a vibratory bar orarmature arm, many obvious advantages and conveniences are secured. Themessage can be taken silently without liability of its purport beingunderstood by others than the operator, which latter condition is alwayspossible when messages are received bysound.

In taking messages by touch the disk or button K is more convenient andreliable than a spur or sharpened point, for the reason that it does notnumb or otherwise exhaust the sensibility of the fingers. It is alsocapable of being grasped, so as to allow the operator to have perfectcontrol of the instrument, and it enables messages to be taken readilyand intelligibly either with the thumb and fingers or in the palm of thehand.

The disk, button, or projection K may be composed of rubber, glass,metal, or other suitable material, and may have a plain surface or beroughened or corrugated, as preferred.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a telegraphic instrument, thecombination, with an electro-magnet or electro-magnets and the armature,of a vibratory bar connected with said armature, and provided with adisk or button, as K, for receiving messages by touch, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a telegraphic instrument, the combination of an electro-magnet orelectro-magnets, a vibratory bar carrying an armature for said magnet,and provided with a disk or button, K, for receiving messages by touch,and a spring connected with said bar forholdingthe armature normally outof contact with the magnet or magnets, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described telegraphic instrument, comprisingelectro-magnet or electromagnets 13, sounding-post O, havinglug Z), thevibratory arm E, provided at one end with a slot, (1, and carrying atitsopposite end a touchbutton, K, the armature F, carried by said vibratorybar, and the adjustable spring (I, for controlling the vibratory bar andholding the armature normally out of contact with the mag net, allconstructed and combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \V. STEWART.

\Vitnesses:

MAX MEYER, J. 13. Rose.

